Illumina and Applera Settle Patent Disputes

Law360 (August 20, 2004, 12:00 AM EDT) -- Biotech rivals Illumina, Inc. and Applera Corp. have agreed to settle two lawsuits over a partnership that went sour, penning a deal that involves royalty-free cross-licensing of key technologies and the dismissal of two patent infringement suits.

The settlement includes an exchange of royalty-free cross-licenses to “certain intellectual property rights” and express termination of the joint development agreement, the two companies said in a statement.

As part of the agreement, Applera said it would dismiss a patent infringement action brought against Illumina in the Northern District...